I felt like everyone was staring, so I twisted my neck and shook him off with a big, friendly smile. “Also fine! I’m totally, completely…fine.”
Jack dropped his hand—which was a good thing, and I didnotimmediately miss it. He gripped the back of his chair until his knuckles turned white. “Hawk. Are you sure…?”
I could tell he was asking about more than my pinecone rash now. “Oh, for god’s sake. When a person says they’re fine, they’re fine!”
Everyone whipped their heads around to stare at me, like the sight of Hawk Sunday losing his shit was a newsworthy Hollowan event.
Which, okay, maybe it was.
“Now who’s making thingsunnecessarily complicated?” I asked softly.
Jack’s eyes darkened, but before he could say anything, Mayor York called the meeting to order. Everyone turned their focus to the front while he welcomed us and went over a few pieces of Hollow housekeeping before introducing the primary topic of tonight’s meeting.
“As you know, we have an important vote coming up in just four short weeks. Our friends at Evola Corp made us a verygenerous offer back in February to purchase the land at Fogg Peak in order to build an exciting new resort that’s sure to bring many more visitors to our little town. Tonight, we’re going to hear from some of Evola’s representatives about the design concepts for the Fogg Aerie Resort so that we as a community can come to a decision. I’d like to give a warm Hollow welcome to?—”
“Fogg Aerie?” I scoffed under my breath. “It has a fancy name now?”
“Shh.” Uncle Drew, ever the peacemaker, leaned across Emma. “At least they kept Jeremiah Fogg’s name in it.”
Hmph.
I missed the name of the man Mayor York introduced, but he made his way to the podium and gave the audience a warm, slightly nervous smile.
“He’s cute,” Em and Crys whispered to me, one in each ear. I shrugged both of them off.
The guy was definitely cute in a smiley, enthusiastic way, which, sadly, was not the type that set my blood on fire. His fair hair was neatly combed, his suit was perfectly pressed, his expression was innocent and earnest… all in all, exactly the sort of harmless-looking person a soulless corporation would send to a small town to convince them to part with their precious natural resources.
I sighed. I reallywascranky.
“Good evening, folks,” he said. “Thank you, Mayor York, for that nice introduction. Um. As Ernest said, I’m the environmental compliance officer for the Evola Development Corporation. We’re so excited to be here in Little Pippin Hollow to work with you on creating the kind of resort development that would not only be mutually beneficial from a commercial standpoint but also an exciting opportunity to preserve and celebrate the beautiful landscape of Fogg Peak. We hope FoggAerie becomes the kind of destination resort that honors the values and purpose of Little Pippin Hollow, and we really,reallyappreciate your willingness to work with us to make sure this project is the best it can be.”
My ears perked up. Environmental compliance officer? That was new. And he sounded like he actually cared about the things I was most concerned about.
“Change is hard. Progress can seem scary,” Environmental Guy went on, looking genuinely sympathetic. “Sometimes, that means people see us as the bad guys. The outsiders coming in to destroy your town’s charm and natural beauty. I promise, I’m no evil mastermind.” He pressed a hand to his chest and flashed a sweet, rueful grin that made the audience chuckle.
Webb leaned forward to give me a significant look that I refused to acknowledge, and in front of me, Jack nodded his head like a bobblehead.
My stomach churned.
Jack and I had discussed the proposed resort a bunch of times since it had first been mentioned last winter. I’d never actually asked him which box he’d be checking when it came time for the vote, but every time I passionately defended Fogg Peak, he reminded me that there was “lots to consider.”
I’d hoped that meant that he was actuallyconsideringthings, but now I wasn’t so sure. He complained about the “flatlanders” clogging the roads every fall during foliage season, but more tourists meant increased revenue at Panini Jack’s. And while he might love hiking at Fogg Peak, he clearly wasn’t going to let that love overcome his logic… which was kind of a running theme for the day.
“I’ll be staying with Ms. Fortnum over at Apple of My Eye Inn for the next few weeks,” Environmental Guy went on. “I urge any and all of you to stop by and see me if you have any questionsor concerns about the project. We care about this town. We care about you.”
Interesting. Back when the development had first been proposed, Helena Fortnum—leader of the Little Pippin Hookers, third grade teacher since the dawn of time, and the Hollow’s biggest gossip—had been its most vocal protestor. She’d once staged a topless knit-in with the other Hookers, and she’d petitioned Mayor York to create a committee to study its environmental impact on the fragile ecosystems of this part of Vermont. Our group had met weekly for a while, drafting flyers and planning demonstrations, but then spring planting season had ramped up. Folks had gotten busy with their own lives and, it seemed, forgotten about the protests. If Ms. Fortnum was now hosting Evola’s staff at her bed-and-breakfast, clearly saving Fogg Peak was no longer her priority.
Environmental Guy ceded the floor to a marketing director, who spewed some bullshit brochure-speak, and then to Evola’s legal representative, whose sole purpose seemed to be to encourage us all to sleep by discussing zoning changes and proposed contract fine print in a monotonous voice.
Against my will, my mind wandered from the meeting, and I found my gaze tracing an errant blond curl caught on the edge of Jack’s ear. My finger itched to brush it away or wrap it around my finger to feel the silky softness of it against my skin.
Give it up, Hawkins.
I closed my eyes and clenched my fists in my lap. Every single part of Jack Wyatt felt so much like home to me—the strength of his shoulders, the tiny vulnerable freckle at the base of his neck that begged for a kiss—that it was hard to remember he wasn’t mine.
This infatuation with my brother’s best friend, my boss, had to stop. It had reached dangerous levels if today’sdisastrous proposal was any indication. My stomach roiled with embarrassed nausea.
There were so many ways I could have approached my proposition better. Maybe if I’d flirted with Jack, or teased him, or simply kissed him and let things happen… fuck, anything besides confessing I was an anal virgin who’d selected him to deflower me?—
